Geplaatst: 21 Nov 2010 19:12 Onderwerp: World War I VC to go up for auction

World War I VC to go up for auction

Tim Barlass
November 14, 2010

THE 1000th Victoria Cross awarded to a Commonwealth serviceman is part of a set of six medals to be auctioned this month and expected to fetch $550,000.

The medals were awarded to Private Henry Dalziel, with the VC given for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Hamel Wood in France in 1918.

The citation, published in the London Gazette, stated: ''A heavy concentration of machinegun fire caused many casualties, and held up our advance. His [Dalziel's] Lewis gun having come into action and silenced enemy guns in one direction, an enemy gun opened fire from another direction. Private Dalziel dashed at it and with his revolver, killed or captured the entire crew and gun, and allowed our advance to continue.''

Advertisement: Story continues below
The catalogue for auction house Noble records Private Dalziel's personal account of the action. ''We were harassed by murderous fire from a nearby enemy stronghold, the Australian advance was held up. My gun had cleaned up one [machinegun] nest, but another planted in a different direction opened fire. I dashed at it killing seven Germans with my two revolvers. One German bloodhound wounded me in the hand, but I soon had him on the ground. I lunged at him with my German dagger, catching him right over the heart. His dying cry upset me and I shivered.''

The medals are to be offered for sale by the recipient's two sons and daughter. The category A medal is not allowed to leave the country, but can be bought by someone abroad.

CITATION: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when in action with a Lewis gun section. His company met with determined resistance from a strong point which was strongly garrisoned, manned by numerous machine-guns and, undamaged by our artillery fire, was also protected by strong wire entanglements. A heavy concentration of machine-gun fire caused many casualties, and held up our advance. His Lewis gun having come into action and silenced enemy guns in one direction, an enemy gun opened fire from another direction. Private Dalziel dashed at it and with his revolver, killed or captured the entire crew and gun, and allowed our advance to continue. He was severely wounded in the hand, but carried on and took part in the capture of the final objective. He twice went over open ground under heavy enemy artillery and machine-gun fire to secure ammunition, and though suffering from considerable loss of blood, he filled magazines and served his gun until severely wounded through the head. His magnificent bravery and devotion to duty was an inspiring example to all his comrades and his dash and unselfish courage at a critical time undoubtedly saved many lives and turned what would have been a serious check into a splendid success.
(London Gazette: 17th August 1918.)

Lees verder op http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-vc/dalziel-vc.htm_________________
"A grand canyon has opened up in our world, the fissure, the crack, grows wider every day. Neither on each side can hear a word that the other shrieks and nor do they want to."
-Stephen Fry on political correctness.

His medals, which are greatly sought by American collectors due to his VC being awarded for his actions on their Independence Day, are in the familyís bank vault. They are the Victoria Cross., 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Australian War Medal 1939/45, Australian Service Medal, King George V1 Coronation Medal, Queen Elizabeth 11 Coronation Medal.

Well... not anymore!

_________________
"A grand canyon has opened up in our world, the fissure, the crack, grows wider every day. Neither on each side can hear a word that the other shrieks and nor do they want to."
-Stephen Fry on political correctness.